Historiae Romanorum

Aedile

During the Roman Republic, the aedile was a position on the cursus honorum.  These four men oversaw the public games held in Rome.  Each year, two were required to be elected from the plebeian class, and two usually came from the patrician class (called the curule aediles).  Although it was not required to become aedile to achieve the rank of praetor, it was highly beneficial for a patrician to so.  It was an easy way to curry favor with the people, if during his year in office he held magnificent games.  For plebeians, this was as high an office as could normally be held.

This page was last updated on July 21, 2004.